Flour duster



Feb-'25, 1930. V I 1,748,543

FLOUR DUSTER Filed July 22, 1925 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

HE/VR Y' 051/1. //v

BY I

AT ORNE S.

Feb. 25, 1930.

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HENRY DEVLl/V BY ATTORNEYS.

IN V EN TOR.

6 Sheets-Sheet 4 43 N9. WW m a mm T a A .6 T

f v .I n 7 KEEN g m H Feb. '25, 1930. H. DEVLIN FLOUR nuswn Filed July22, 1925 Feb. 25, 1930. H, DEVLIN 1,748,543

FLOUR DUSTER v Filed July 22, 1925 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. HE/VRYDEl/QLl/V ATTORNEYS.

Feb. 25;, 1930. H..DEVLIN V v 1,748,543

mom: DUSTER Filed July 22'. 1925 GSheets-Sheet s 2' m rm INVENTOR.

HE/VR Y DEVL //v BY ATTORNEYS.

.Patented Feb. 25, 1930 UNHTED STATES PATENT orFic-E HENRY DEVLIN, OFSAGINAW, MICHIGAN, ASSIG-NOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, BAKER PERKINSGOMIANY, INQ, OF SAGINAW, MICHIGAN, A'COR-BORAIION OF NEW YORK FLOURDUSTER Application filed July 22, 1925.- Serial No. 45,155.

This invention relates to powder sprinklingdevices, usually called flourclusters, and particularly to those for use in bakeries.

It is an object .of this invention to provide a powder sprinklingmachinehaving a flexibility of adjustment so that it may readily be adapted tothe various uses to which it may be put.

It is generally necessary in sprinkling powdery substances to regulatethe amount used as well as the direction in which it is sprinkled,easily and .quickly. It is, there fore, an object of this'invention toprovide a duster having an arrangement such that, by a relatively simpleadjustment, the amount of powder ejected and the direction in which thepowder is ejected may be controlled.

Briefly, powder dusting machines of the type disclosed in this inventioncomprise a of which is inserted a screen through which the powder isdusted. To secure a uniform flow of powder, an agitator is provided,positioned in the trough so that it may sweep to 5 and fro over thescreen, gently ejecting the- 5 These and other features will be apparentfrom a consideration of the accompanying drawings-which representgenerally exam- I ples of flour dusters used in bakeries. in connectionwith dough dividers, rounders, molding machines, biscuit "cuttingmachines and the like.

1 is an end view of one form of flour duster in accordance with thisinvention showing the external arrangement for-adjustment;

Fig. 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1

showing the internal structure of the {agita tor;

Fig. 4 is a section on line H of Fig. 2;

trough for containing. powder in the bottom i Fig. 3 is a-section online33 of 2;

Fig. 5 is a section similar to Fig. 3 showmg the agitator in a differentposition;

ig. 6 is a fragmentary end view showing the driving means;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the screen;

Referring specifically to Figs. -1-9, which represent; a hour dusterpreferably used in dough .moldingmachines and :the like, a trough 1,adapted to contain powderymaterial to'be dusted, comprises side avalls2, and

.end walls 3 .andd. In the bottom 5 of the I Figs. 8.and 9 are detailedviewsiof the trough, an .opening extends its fulllength the walls .ofthe opening being so recessed and 16 arranged at their lower ends withtubelike projections lt into Whichthe holders :13

of the blade 12 are slidably inserted. Flat dlSCSrl'T, mounted upon andsurrounding the holders .13 and the lower :flat portions .of the springs18.to press blade 12 igentl ywagainst screen 6, thusnot onlyassuringeffeotiveblade action but also providingsprotection to the bladeand screw against hard substances found in the powder. I

. A rod 20 extends between proj ections19 .of sleeves 15 and 16, therebyincreasingthe sleeves 15 and 16, enclose between them insure ready flowthrough the screen.

A collar 21 is securely mounted on shaft 9 by means of screw bolt 22 thelatter being eccentrically' positioned in the collar.

Rigidly secured to the end wall 3 is a stout plate 23 for carrying themoving and controlling mechanism for the agitator. Mounted on the plateare two horizontally aligned projections 24 and 25, havin screw threadedopenings 27 therein to receive a long thumb screw 28.

A bracket 26, having in its upper part two arms 29, extending parallelto plate 23, is mounted on one side of the plate 23. A pivot 31 parallelto shaft 9 is supported in aligned openings 30 in the arms 29 andrevolubly car ries a bell crank lever 32. he downwardly pointing arm 33ends in a thick-circular disc which is adapted normally to encounter theend of screw 28. The arm 35 of the bell crank has a sidewise projection113 (Fig. 9) which extends across the top edge of the trough andterminates in a hinged connection with a link rod 36 whose opposite .endis hinged to a projection 37 on sleeve 15 (Fig. 3). Motion of thebell-crank lever about its fulcrum pin 31 thus transmits motion throughrod 36 to sleeve 15 which in turn controls the motion of the agitatorblade 12.

In order to impart a rocking motion to the bell crank lever, there isprovided a rod 39, screw threaded at both ends, the lower end of whichis screwed into a socket 38 rotatably mounted on the projecting end ofeccentric bolt 22. The upper end of rod 39 carries a screw nut 40, awasher 41, and a collar 42 slidably mounted beneath the washer. A spring44 surrounding the rod 39 and sup ported at its lower end by means ofdisc 43 rigidly secured to the rod holds the collar 42 resilientlyagainst washer 41. A pin 45 extends sidewise from the collar 42, throughan opening 46 in the mid portion of arm 35 and -1s held in position bywasher 47 and pin 48 (Fig. 9). o

The screen 6, referred to above, is composed of a suitable perforatedmaterial or net 49 secured to a surrounding frame 50. The frame isadapted to slide like a shutter in recesses 51 formed in the reenforcedwalls 52 surrounding the opening 53 in the bottom of the trough. Thescreen and frame is a portion of a cylinder whose center lies along thecenter line of shaft 9. The frame extends beyond the end walls ofthetrough by imperforate portions 54 and 57. The former is provided at itsend with a handle 55 to facilitate sliding and a'stop pin 56 to limitthe motion towards the trough. The

frame is prevented from sliding too far'in the opposite direction bymeans of astop block 59 which is mounted upon the projecting free end ofresilient member 58 secured at its other end to the frame portion 57 byscrews or rivets.

By springing stop block 59 down below the under surface of the troughthe screen may be readily withdrawn from the trough by handle 55.

In the manner described the screen may be moved over the articles to bedusted and the lengthwise position of the screen adjusted to supplyarticles of varying length witl. powder, without undue waste, that is,if it is desired to sprinkle an article or group of articles whoseoverall length is less than the length of the screen the article may beplaced at one end of the trough 1 and the screen 6 moved towards it sothat one end of the screen projects beyond the end wall of the trough.Then only such length of the screen is active as is necessary tosprinkle the article.

It is also a function of the invention to regulate the sidewise emissionof powder so that the particular area to be covered may be determined.This is accomplished by regulating the position and length of the strokeof the agitator blade.

The driving mechanism for the agitator preferably is so arranged thatthe maximum stroke of the blade is equal to substantially half thewidthof the screen. This arrangement, of course, is merely forconvenience as itis obvious that a maximum stroke of any length may beprovided without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The screw nut 40 on rod 39 is adjusted at such a distance from theeccentric bolt 22 that when the bolt is at its highestpoint, the blade12 lies along the left edge of the screen 6 (Fig. With the bolt at itslowest point, the blade is positioned substantially mid-way of thescreen (Fig. 3). For each revolution of the shaft 9, the blade traversesthis distance twice.

By screwing down nut 40, collar 42 and arm 35 are lowered so that, withbolt at its highest point the blade 12 is located on the centre line ofthe screen. Subsequent motion of the bolt to its lowest position carriesblade 12 over the right side of the screen (Fig. 4).

The length of the stroke of blade 12 may be altered by changin thedistance of travel. of disc 34. This in turn limits the travel of linkrod 36 by which blade 12 is oscillated. This is accomplished by means ofscrew 28 the tip of which acts as a stop for disc 34. The lost motionbetween rod 39 and bell crank lever 32 is-then consumed in compressingspring 44 on the upward motion of rod 39 It is evident, therefore,- thatby continued movement of the screw 28 against disc 3tthe length ofstroke of the blade maybe reduced little-by little until the motionofthe' blade is finally stopped. However, shaft 9 continues to revolvesince rod :39 is free to move through collar 42.

It should be noted that spring 44 is of such strength that, underpropulsionfrom disc 43, it will readily lift the arm and its associatedmechanism, but is not strong enough to prevent the rotation of shaft '9when, by

means of screw 28, the bell crank has been prevented from moving.

By quickly turning the screw 28 inwardly the duster is shut off easilyand practically at once, while the machine, to'which it is attached,works onwithout interruption.

In the modificationof the invention as dis closed in Figs. 1017inclusive, the general principles involved are the same, but the drivingshaft is mounted without the trough. This modification is especiallyuseful for ibiscuit cutting machines and the like, in which a broad andcontinuous sheet of dough. is to be sprinkled with flour.

The shaft revolu'bly driven by any suitable means, rotates in bearingblock 61 supported on angle iron 62 of framework 63. The motion of theshaft is transmitted by means of an eccentric bolt'98 and rod 93(similar to bolt 22 and rod39) to a bell crank 81. The latter is keyedat its fulcrum by means of a pin 82 to a shaft 64 extending lengthwiseof the trough 1, suitably journalled in bearings '65 and '66 and held inposition'at either end by means of collars 79 and'81 and pins 80 and 82.

The agitator 7 comprises a thin strip-like blade 67 extending lengthwiseof the trough and carriedby means of holders 71 inserted respectively inthe aligned openings 74 in shaft '64, and 7 2 in the sleeves-68 and itspro- 7 jections 70v and 7 3. "The sleevesf68 arefirigidly secured toshaft 6 1 by means of set screws 69. The holders 71 are screw threadedat their upper ends to receive screw nuts 7 5 and washers 76.and aresurrounded at their points of contact with the blade by the discs 7 7between which and the projections 70 springs 78 are arranged,thu spressing the blade gently against the screen.

The tip of thumb screw 85 turning'inrthe screw threaded opening 84inbracket83 mounted on the end wall 3 of the trough is arranged toengage the disc like end 87 of the upwardly pointing arm 86 of the bellcrank 81. Arm 86 is so arranged and of such length that it contacts withthe tip'of screw 85 in all positions.

Bellcrankarm 88 is disposedv'sidew-ise and is reinforced'at its end by adisc 89having an opening 90through'which pin'91 extends Ihorizontallyfrom the collar 92 sliding on "-rod 93. l

.controlling the 95, socket 96, and springilOO, all having similarfunctions to the corresponding parts associated with rod 39. Eccentricbolt 98 carries rotatably mounted thereon socket 96 and is so positionedon shaft 60 that blade 67 may'sweep across the'ful'l width of screen101. As before explained, tuning the nut 94 alters the position of the.blade sidewise while adjustment of the thumb screw 85 controls thelength of stroke of the blade and the starting and stopping of theagitator in dependently of the rotation of shaft 60.

,While the screen construction shown in Figs. 1 to 9 may be equally wellemployed in this modification, a diflerent arrangement has'been shown,one which maybe used .effectually in dusting machines in which'rthematerial/to be dusted passes beneath the screen of uniform width andinthe same position on a conveyor. No provision, therefore, has been madefor adjusting the position of the-screen lengthwise. Thescreen comprisesa plate 101, having perforations '1021eXtending practically itswhole'length, mounted on a frame 103 slidably mounted'in recesses 104 atthe sides of the opening '105in' the reinforced portion of the troughbottom 5. As before, the cross-section :of the screen and frameisarcuate.

r The screen is prevented from sliding too far inwardly by extending.the lower part .of

end wall 3 to provide a support 106 on which the frame 103*rests. Ahandle 107 is provided at the other end of the frame to facilitate re-.movalof the screen for cleaning and replacmg. I i

Vari'ous forms of agitator blade :may be employed in these agitators,that shown in Fig. 2 being a metal -rod,while a metal, strip is used inFigull. Figs. .18, 19,.and 20 .disclose other forms. That of Fig.18comprises two thin strips of metal 108, gripped by holder 109 andenclosing a strip of leather or rubber 110. In Fig. 19 a small narrowbrush 111 replaces the leatheror rubber strip while a wedge 112 is shownin Fig. 20.

What I claim as new is: 1 1 1. In a flour dusting machine, a cesses in.the lower walls thereof, a-screen comprising a thin perforated platemounted on a surrounding frame adapted to slide shutter-like in saidrecesses, said frame ex.- tending beyond 'thelend walls :of said trough,means comprising {3,11 impenforate member at oneendof saidframe-provided with a handle and a stop pin,'an imperforate member atthe other end of said frame, .a spring secured to the bottom of saidmember and projectingtherebeyond, and a removablev'stop block'for 7,-:distance said screen is adjusted.

2. In a cesses in the .lpwer' walls thereof, a screen,"

trough, re-

flour dusting machine, a trough, .re-

' said shaft.

a supporting frame for said screen adapted to slide shutter-like in saidrecesses, and a spring controlled stop adapted to engage the end wall ofsaid trough for securing said frame in position.

8. In combination, a trough, a screen in said trough, an agitator bladeadapted to move over said screen, a bell crank lever connected to saidblade, a revolving shaft, means to drive said blade with a to-and-fromotion comprising a connecting rod between said shaft and said levereccentrically connected with said shaft, and means for adjusting theeffective lengthof said rod, whereby the position of said blade oversaid screen may be predetermined.

i. In combination, a trough, a screen in said trough, an agitator bladeadapted to move over said screen, a bell crank lever connected to saidblade, a revolving shaft, screwcontrolled means for transmitting ato-andfro motion to said blade from said revolving shaft, and a screwexternally positioned on said trough and adapted to cooperate with onearm of said bell crank for limiting the motion thereof, therebyregulating the length of stroke of said blade.

5. In combination, a trough, a screen in said trough, an agitator bladeadapted to move over said screen, a rotating shaft, a bell crank leverfor imparting a to-and-fro motion to said blade, one arm of said leverbeing revolubly connected to a collar, a connecting rod eccentricallymounted on said shaft and adapted to slide through said collar, means toarrest the motion of said rod through said collar in one direction,thereby swinging said lever in that direction about its pivotal point,means comprising a yield ing connection for swinging said lever in theother direction about its pivotal point, screw-controlled means forarresting the motion of said lever in the latter direction, therebyhalting the movement of said agitator blade, and means for taking up theresulting lost motion of said shaft and rod.

6.In a flour dusting machine, a trough, a screen, a continuouslyrevolving shaft,"an agitator in said trough loosely mounted on saidshaft and adapted to move to and fro independently thereof adjacent saidscreen, and means to translate the revolving motion of said shaft into ato-and-fro motion of said 7. In a flour dusting machine, a trough, ascreen, a continuously revolving shaft, an agitator in said troughloosely mounted on said shaft and adapted to move to and froindependently thereof adjacent said screen, means to translate therevolving motion of said shaft into a to-and-fro motion of saidagitator, and means to arrest the motion of said agitator independentlyof the motion of 8. In a flour dusting machine, a trough, a

screen through which the flour is dusted, an agitator mounted in saidtrough for movement across said screen, means for imparting a to and fromovement to said agitator comprising a revolving shaft having a. crank,a lever, a connecting rod for imparting movement from said crank to saidlever, an adjustable connection between said rod and said lever, aspring for permitting said lever to yield in one direction with relationto said rod, and adjustable means forlimiting the movement of said leverin the other direction.

9. In a flour dusting machine, a trough, a screen through which theflour is dusted, an agitator mounted in said trough for movement acrosssaid screen, means for reciprocating said agitator comprising arevolving shaft, a lever, a connection between the lever and shaft foroscillating the lever, means for adjusting the connection between theshaft and the lever for adjusting the movement of the agitator, andadjustable means for partially or completely stopping the movement ofthe lever to adjust or stop the movement of the agitator.

10. In combination, a trough having a discharge opening, a screencovering the discharge opening in said trough, an agitator bladearranged to move to and fro across said screen, and means for movingsaid blade comprising a continuously revolving shaft, a connectionbetween the shaft and the agitator comprising positive means for movingthe agitator in one direction and yielding means for moving the agitatorin the reverse direction, means for adjusting said connection, and anadjustable stop for limiting the move ment of the agitator imparted bysaid yielding means.

11. In a flour dusting machine, a trough having a discharge opening, ascreen covering the discharge opening in said trough, a continuouslyrevolving shaft, an agitator in said trough and adjacent said screenloosely mounted on said shaft and means for transmitting a to and froswinging motion to said agitator from said revolving shaft, comprising alever, a connecting rod for oscillating said lever from the shaft, and alink connecting the lever with the agitator.

12. In a flour dusting machine, a trough having a discharge openingtherein, a screen covering said opening, an agitator located in saidtrough and movable across said screen, lever mechanism operativelyconnected to said agitator and driven through a yieldable connection,and a stop member movable into engagement with said lever mechanism tostop the movement of said agitator.

13. In a flour dusting machine, a trough having a discharge openingtherein, a screen covering said opening, an agitator located in saidtrough and movable across said screen, lever mechanism for operatingsaid agitator, continuously operating yieldable drive mechanism for saidlever mechanism,

and an adjustable stop member movable into engagement with said levermechanism to stop movement of said agitator during the continuedrotation of said drive mechanism.

Signed at Saginaw, county of Saginaw, Michigan, this 15th day of July1925.

' HENRY DEVLIN.

